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I 



CHANUKAH 
SKETCH 



BY 

RUTH E, LEVI 




NEW YORK 

BLOCH PUBLISHING COMPANY 

"The Jewish Book Concern" 

192 1 



Copyright, 1921, Bloch Publishing Company 



Characters 



Father Time. 

A Child. 

Hannah^ and Her Seven Sons. 

Mattathias. 

Judas Maccabee. 

Crowd of Israelites : Warriors, women, and children. 

The costumes should be simple, flowing robes in Orien- 
tal colors for the women and children, with the usual 
swords, shields and helmets added for the warriors. 



ICI.D 59H83 



2 

Mi 19 1922 



<H* I 






CHANUKAH SKETCH 



Scene: A large roo'm. A table stands at one side (left), 
at which sits old Father Time, writing in a large hook. 
He has his hour glass and scythe at his side. Books 
and papers in great disorder cover the table. Two 
doors, right and left. 

{The Child enters at the right door, and goes left. 
He and Father Time remain seated at the table, while 
the characters are on and off the stage.) 

Father Time {writes busily) : Dear me, dear me ! Here 
it is almost New Year again, and I've not half my ac- 
counts written. I've gotten so confused with these dis- 
coveries of the North Pole and airships that it seems 
as though I'll never catch up with my days. Let me 
see. {Writes hurriedly, consulting his calendar every 
few mimites.) 

{A knock is heard at the door.) 

Father Time {testily, keeping on writing) : What is it? 
Don't come in, I'm busy. 

{Door opens and Child enters, big-eyed with wonder, 
but perfectly at ease.) 

Father Time {continues writing) : Well, what do you 
want ? 

{No answer.) 

3 



Father Time (pounds on the table) : Hurry up, I say! 

Can't you see I'm busy ? 
(Child jumps.) 
(Father Time looks up for the first time and sees 

Child. ) 
Father Time (kindly) : Oh, hello, I didn't mean to 

frighten you ! 
Child (politely) : You didn't, sir. I'm a Jew, you know, 

and we never get scared. 
Father Time : Indeed ! Well, and what do you want 

here, my little man? 
Child (advances to the table) : Please, sir, are you Father 

Time? 
Father Time : That's what the earth people call me. 
Child : Then I want you to show me where all the stories 

come from. 
Father Time (astonished) : What ! 
Child (repeats) : I want you to tell me a story. When 

Mother put me to bed tonight she said that Father 

Time kept all the stories locked up in his books. So I 

thought I'd come and see for myself. Is this one? 

(He reaches out for the book nearest him, and tries to 

open it.) 
Father Time: Hold on, hold on there, my young man. 

That book is not to be opened by anyone but me. 

Child : Oh, excuse me. But why can't I do it ? 

Father Time: Because that's the Book of the Future, 
and no man may look into that. But there, there (he 
glances at his hour-glass) . I've a few minutes to spare 
now, and I'll show you some of the pictures in this 
other book. Come ! 

(Child climbs on his knee. Father Time unclasps a 
large volume bound in dark colors.) 

4 



Child : What is this one called ? 

Father Time : The Book of the Past. 

Child : Did you write it ? 

Father Time: Yes, my boy. 

Child (peers in as Father Time turns the pages absent- 
mindedly) : How funny it looks ! And what queer kind 
of ink you have used — it is so faint. 

Father Time : Ah, my dear, that is memory. But now, 
we must hurry to our story. What kind do you want ? 

Child (eagerly) : Oh, fairy stories, please! 

Father Time: You won't find them in here or at least 
men don't give them that name. (He ponders a mo- 
ment.) But wait, I've an idea! Can you tell me what 
holiday is coming next? 

Child (proudly) : Chanukah, sir. 

Father Time (nodding assent) : That's right. So now, 
I am going to introduce you to some of the people who 
made that festival for you and let them tell their own 
story. 

(Father Time turns back page after page, stopping 
at the one he wants, and bids the Child look down at it. 
Instantly, the light of the stage grows dimmer, and fig- 
ures advance from the shadows at the back of the stage. 
The light brightens again, and shows Hannah sur- 
rounded by her seven sons.) 

Hannah (looks down at them lovingly, and fondles the 
youngest) : Oh, my sons, my own fine boys, do you 
know how dear you are to your mother Hannah? 

First Boy: Yes, Mother, but you have taught us some- 
thing better than that. 

Second Boy: Aye, to love and serve the God of Israel, 
blessed be He! 



Seventh and Smallest Boy : Oh, Mother, do you think 
I'll ever get the chance to keep my promise? I am 
ready to die. 

Hannah (takes him in her arms impulsively) : Hush, 
child, hush ! You know not whereof you speak ! 

Third Boy (interrupts) : Oh, no Mother. He does 
know what it means to worship the God of Israel, when 
all our enemies try to make us sacrifice to their strange 
gods. 

Fourth Boy : Aye, were we not stoned in the street yes- 
terday, as we hurried home from the Temple! 

Fifth Boy (timidly) : Mother, think you harm can come 
of it all? 

Hannah (looks frightened, and tries to gather them all 
into her arms. Then she assumes a brave air and says) : 
No fear, no one need fear, as long as he remains true 
to his trust. Come, my sons ; once more let us pledge 
ourselves to the worship of the Most High — blessed be 
He! 

(They all stand in a circle and raise their hands, 
chanting.) 

We swear to be true to the God of our Fathers, 
To the truth that Jehovah to Israel has shown; 
We sing loud His praise, with our voices we raise — 
(Sounds of tumult outside interrupt.) 

Sixth Boy : Mother, Mother, the time has come ! 

(He runs out of the room, the others following him.) 

Hannah (hurries after them sobbing frantically) : My 
children, my sons, my children! Come back, come 
back! 

(Pause of a few moments.) 

Child (gazing up at Father Tim£, piteously) : And were 
they all killed? 

6 



Father Time : Yes, yes, my dear. But look here, (points 
to the next page) here is a happier story. 

{Stage darkens again. Music plays a triumphal 
march. The stage brightens, showing Judas Maccabee 
in warrior costume. He stands in the center of the 
stage, with his helmet off, paying reverence to his father 
who is dressed in the garments of a High Priest. War- 
riors, wom^en and children stand around.) 
Judas Maccabee : Give my thy blessing, my father ! 
Mattathias : You have conquered the enemy, slain the 
foe. 
The great and the mighty your arm has 
laid low. 

Judas Maccabee : In the name of the Lord, I triumphed 
over them. 

Mattathias : The Assyrian's army all lie in the dust. 

Forever and ever their heavy swords rust. 

Judas Maccabee: The Almighty, blessed be He, hath 

cast out his foe ! 
Mattathias : Israel's freedom through you is rewon, 

Jehovah's best blessing be on you, my son ! 
Chorus (all chant) : Hail to the conqueror. 

Hail to the Maccabee: 
He who has saved Israel, 
He who has destroyed the enemy. 
He who will lead Israel among the 

nations ; 
Hail, all hail! 
(They form a procession and file out of the room, 
Judas Maccabee and Mattathias leading.) 
(Pause.) 
Child : Oh, that was fine ! Show me some more, please. 

7 




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{He tries to hide his yawns, but begins to look very 

tired.) 
Father Time : Aha, I think I had better look at my hour 

glass ! Somebody is sleepy ; it is high time that he 

should be in bed ! 
Child (rubbing his eyes) : I'm not tired, honest I'm not ! 

(Yawns again.) 
Father Time (laughs good-naturedly) : Well, I am. So 

good-night. 

( Child begins to slip down from Father Timers knees 

and as he does so the room darkens again.) 
Child (sleepily) : Good-night ! Thank you. Father Time. 
(Chorus outside sings the traditional Chanukah 

Hym^n while curtain falls.) 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 




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